Woman charged with harming fetus via drug use

Prosecutors contend charges are valid since drug use, birth came before July 2012 law change

5:20 PM,
May 2, 2013

Written by

Mark Bell
The Daily News Journal

Police are pursuing aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges against a 26-year-old woman who allegedly harmed her unborn child in 2011 and 2012 by consuming cocaine during her pregnancy.

Prosecutors contend their case against Alisha N. Rodriguez is prosecutable since her baby was born at a Murfreesboro hospital in May 2012, two months before a law change went into effect. Tennessee law changed in July 2012 making women immune from prosecution for harming fetuses by abusing illegal drugs while pregnant.